Improvement in bracelet hinge-joints



J. BARCLAY. Bracelet Hinge-Joint.

Patented April 15,1879.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN BARCLAY, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN BRACELET HINGE-JOINTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No- 214,351, dated April 15, 1879; application filed September 11, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN BARCLAY, of Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Bracelet Hinge- Joints, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a side view of a bracelet to which my invention is applied. Fig. 2 is a side view of my hinge-joint detached. Fig. 3 is a cross-section thereof in the line as ac, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a side view of the cap forming one part or section of the hinge-joint in a solid state. Fig. 4* is an end view thereof. Figs. 5 and 6 show the two caps of the joint in side view. Figs. 7 and 8 show the same in front view; and Figs. 9 and 10 show longitudinal sections, as represented by lines .10 as on Figs. 5 and 6.

Similar letters indicate correspondingparts.

My invention relates especially to that class of hingejoints used on bracelets and other similar articles. Hinge-joints for this class of articles are usually made of two sheet-metal caps, which are fitted on the ends of the parts to be connected together, and to which are soldered pieces of hollow wire, to form the knuckles of the hinge-joints.

The process of soldering the pieces of hollow wire obviously is laborious and expensive, while the wire, moreover, is liable to get loose or break 011' if not very carefully attached.

The object of my invention is to produce a hinge-joint of the character named without soldering, and one possessing greater strength and durability than the old joint.

My invention consists in ahinge-joint made of two sheet-metal caps, each having one or more knuckles, which are formed in one piece therewith, and of apintle which passes through the knuckles, so as to connect the two caps together, as hereinafter fully set forth.

In the drawings, the letter A designates a bracelet, the two halves or sections of which are connected together at one end by ahingejoint constructed according to my invention. B G are the two caps of my hinge-joint. D are the knuckles of the caps, and E is the pintle passing through the knuckles.

In carrying out my invention, I first stamp a piece of sheet metal in a die suitably shaped to produce a cap of the general form shown in Figs. 4 and 4*, this cap being adapted to be slipped over and secured on the ends of the parts of a bracelet, and having a rectilinear ridge, a, along its edge. I then cut away a portion or portions of the ridge a, as at b, in a secondary die, to form either of the caps B or O, leaving a portion or portions of the ridge solid, which portions of the ridge constitute the knuckles D. Equal portions or portion of the ridge a are cut away and the other portions or portion allowed to remain, so that the openings b, formed by cutting away the ridge 'on one of the caps B orO, are adapted to receive the knuckles of the other cap. By inserting the knuckles of one of the caps B or 0 into the openings of the other cap they are made to coincide with each other, so that the pintle E can be shoved into place and fastened, by which operation the hingejoint is completed.

To allow of passing the pintle E through the knuckles, the end knuckles of the cap 0 are chamfered ofl, whereby an opening is formed at the end of each of said knuckles, through which the pintle is allowed to pass.

It will be readily understood that my hingejoint can be manufactured at a low cost, while it possesses a vast amount of strength, no soldering being required in the process of its manufacture, and each of the caps B or 0 consisting of a single and solid piece of sheet metal.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- A bracelet hinge-joint consisting of two struck-up sheet-metal caps, B and 0, adapted to be slipped over and secured to the ends of a bracelet, each of said caps being formed with a knuckle adapted to interlock with each other and confined together by a separate pintle, all constructed and arranged substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I hereunto set my hand and seal this 31st day of August, 1878.

JOHN BARCLAY. [L. s]

Witnesses:

W. G. G. CUSHMAN,

J OHN BRIDE. 

